Artificial photosynthesis and generation of hydrogen by splitting water

Abstract

Energy and environmental issues have become the biggest technological challenges of today. The global energy demands have been stipulated to rise from current level of 12 TW per day to 27 TW by 2050. The current sources of energy, primarily hydrocarbons, coal and petroleum are non-renewable and will not be able to sustain the increasing demands of energy for it is getting consumed and also diminishing. It is expected that due to increasing consumption of the fossil fuels will last for another 30-40 years. Also, burning of hydrocarbons emits CO2, the major greenhouse gas leading to environmental degradation and global warming. According to International energy agency, the goal of limiting global warming to 2C is becoming more difficult to maintain with each passing year and if action is not taken within 2020, all allowable CO2 emissions would be locked. Therefore, alternative energy supplies are urgently needed to limit our dependence on fossil fuels. Out of the major ways like hydroelectrical, wind power and harvesting sun energy, the solar energy is the most abundant and sustainable natural source of energy.